Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

In the days that followed, Qingyun Mountain Gate, which had been quiet and desolate before, became bustling with activity.

First, several small cultivation families in the vicinity that depended on the market for survival sent their stewards or disciples with gifts that were not particularly valuable but were quite thoughtful (such as spirit grains, low-level demon beast meat, and ordinary ores). Ostensibly, they were there to "congratulate the Qingyun Sect on clearing its name," but in reality, they were testing the waters and trying to get acquainted with the sect.

Subsequently, smaller independent cultivation groups, or lower-level independent cultivators who admired the "ancient methods" of the Qingyun Sect, also came to visit in an endless stream.

Some wanted to curry favor, some wanted to find out the truth about "Enlightenment Cave," and some even volunteered to join the sect.

For a time, unfamiliar figures could often be seen in front of Qingyun Mountain. This left the Qingyun disciples, who were used to peace and quiet, especially the newly joined disciples, somewhat overwhelmed and even at a loss.

"Senior Brother Sect Leader, two more groups of people have arrived today. One group is the steward of the Li family in Shannan, who brought two bags of top-grade spiritual grains."

"The other group consists of a few independent cultivators who wish to see you and ask... ask if they can pay to enter the Enlightenment Cave for a chance to comprehend the Dao."

Su Xiao held the notebook and reported to Shen Mo, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her tone tinged with a hint of trouble.

"Sect Leader, those people look shifty and speak in riddles. They don't seem like honest people!" Shi Tie said in a gruff voice. He didn't have a good attitude towards these visitors who disturbed his cultivation.

"Yes, Sect Leader, some people have come to ask what kind of martial arts we practice, but I know nothing about it, just as you taught me!" Zhang Daniu said, scratching his head.

The youngest, Qian Xiaodou, was so frightened by several overly enthusiastic visitors that she hid in the back mountain and dared not come out.

Faced with this sudden surge in popularity, the disciples had different feelings: some were curious, some were proud, but most felt uncomfortable and a little worried.

Shen Mo observed the disciples' reactions. This was an inevitable stage in the development of the sect.

How to deal with these visitors—remaining neither arrogant nor humble while upholding the sect's dignity, yet avoiding prematurely revealing the sect's secrets and inviting trouble—is an important skill and a valuable experience for the disciples.

On this day, he summoned all his disciples to the front of the main hall.

"Recently, there have been many visitors coming to the mountain gate. What are your thoughts on this?" Shen Mo's gaze swept calmly over the crowd.

"This is so annoying! It's interrupting my training!" Shi Tie said bluntly.

"It feels like... they all have their own purposes," Su Xiao replied thoughtfully.

"I'm a little... afraid of saying the wrong thing," Zhao Qingyan said softly.

Shen Mo nodded slightly and said, "What you all feel is true. As the sect's reputation grows, praise and scrutiny will inevitably follow. This is normal; there is no need to be alarmed or complacent."

His tone then turned serious: "However, one must know that people's hearts are unpredictable. Among those who come, some are genuinely seeking friendship, while others are probing to find out the truth, and some may even harbor malicious intentions. Your every word and action represents the face of the sect, so you must be careful."

"Today, I will teach you how to deal with this," Shen Mo said in a deep voice. "The general principle is only four words: neither humble nor arrogant."

"Do not be humble, for you are members of the Qingyun Sect. There is no need to belittle yourselves. Our sect has a well-established lineage and our founder has bestowed great blessings upon us. You are all pillars of our sect and should have confidence."

"Being humble means not being arrogant or rude. Regardless of a visitor's level of cultivation or background, they are guests and should be treated with courtesy."

"However, when it comes to sect secrets, such as details of cultivation techniques, array arrangements, or details of the herb garden, the response should always be 'The sect leader has ordered that these must not be disclosed' or 'Our cultivation level is too low to know yet.'"

"We can discuss local customs and traditions, and even basic knowledge of spiritual practice, but the core secrets must be kept strictly confidential!"

He went on to explain in more detail:

"Junior Brother Tie, you are straightforward, so there's no need for you to say much. Just maintain your dignity. If the other party persists, just say, 'The sect leader is currently in seclusion and does not receive guests.'"

"Junior Sister Xiao, you are thoughtful and meticulous. You are good at receiving guests, speaking appropriately, and reading people. You can reveal some trivial anecdotes about the sect (such as the harmony among disciples and their diligent cultivation) to showcase the sect's spirit. However, you must be absolutely careful not to let anything slip at crucial moments."

"Zhao Qingyan, you are meticulous and steady. Assist your senior sister Su Xiao in recording the visitor information."

"Sun Xiaohou, you are quick-witted and in charge of greeting and seeing off visitors. Pay attention to the expressions and behaviors of those who come. If anything seems suspicious, inform Senior Sister Su Xiao or Senior Brother Shi Tie in time."

"The rest of the disciples should each perform their duties. There is no need to deliberately flatter or evade them. Just be calm and composed."

Shen Mo's guidance was clear, concise, and to the point. The disciples listened attentively and gradually gained a better understanding.

"Furthermore," Shen Mo emphasized, "the Enlightenment Cave is a sacred place of the sect. Only disciples who have made outstanding contributions are allowed to enter. Outsiders will be refused entry! There is absolutely no room for negotiation on this!"

"If anyone insists, say that this is the legacy of our patriarch, and those who disobey will be punished by heaven!"

This is the bottom line he must adhere to, and it is also the key to maintaining the mystery and appeal of "Enlightenment Cave".

"Yes! Sect Leader (Senior Brother)! This disciple understands!" the disciples replied in unison, their eyes hardening.

With the sect leader's clear strategy, the disciples seemed to have a backbone, and their mindset was different when facing visitors.

A few days later, as expected, several well-dressed young men who claimed to be disciples of the "Golden Sword Sect" came to visit. They were quite arrogant and asked to visit the "Enlightenment Cave" and even hinted that they could "guide" the Qingyun Sect disciples in their cultivation.

Su Xiao, who was in charge of reception, smiled and behaved politely, replying calmly:

"Fellow Daoists have come from afar and are guests, so we should treat you well. However, the Enlightenment Cave is the place where our sect's founder cultivated in seclusion. The sect leader has a strict order that no one who is not a disciple of our sect may enter, so as not to offend the founder's spiritual energy."

"As for discussing the Dao, our disciples' cultivation is shallow, and we dare not trouble you fellow Daoists. If you are interested, you may rest here with tea and enjoy the mountain scenery."

His words were both firm and persuasive, maintaining his bottom line without escalating the conflict.

The Golden Sword Sect disciples were rebuffed and looked displeased, but unable to find fault with them, they had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

When faced with sincere and genuinely seeking advice from independent cultivators, Su Xiao would appropriately share some basic cultivation insights (unrelated to cultivation techniques), or have Li Xiaocao showcase the thriving common herbs in the herb garden to highlight the vitality of the sect, ensuring that the other party arrives with high expectations and leaves satisfied.

Shi Tieze stood at the mountain gate, his face dark, arms crossed and silent. His imposing aura as a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator (pseudo) (mainly his physique and eyes) was enough to deter those with ill intentions.

After several "real-world" experiences, the disciples became increasingly composed. They knew when to be polite and when to refuse, striking the perfect balance.

The image of Qingyun Sect as neither arrogant nor humble, and as having its own rules and regulations, has gradually been established.

The influx of visitors did not disrupt the sect's normal order; instead, they became a whetstone for tempering the disciples' character and improving their interpersonal skills.

Amidst this sudden surge in popularity, Qingyun Sect gradually and steadily established itself, selecting trustworthy individuals and weeding out those with ulterior motives.

This incident has strengthened the cohesion of the sect and greatly improved its ability to deal with external threats.

Shen Mo's educational approach, which guided students to adapt to the changing circumstances, once again yielded excellent results.

After dealing with several waves of visitors who were either testing the waters or trying to make connections, Qingyun Mountain welcomed an even more important guest on this day.

The person who arrived was not Manager Chen, whom the Hundred Treasures Pavilion was familiar with, but a middle-aged cultivator with a thin face and wearing a brocade robe.

This man exuded a calm and composed aura, his cultivation having reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, even surpassing Manager Chen. Behind him followed two sharp-eyed attendants, whose cultivation was at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining, making him quite imposing.